Paper Weavings and a Carnivorous Plant Toile

I've been diligently creating my detritus paper weaves every morning, whether they get posted to Instagram or not.

This latest set is a mixture of leopard, a ditsy, and strips from a print I called Tropical Goth (link)

I became fond of the bits of botanical drawings in the cut strips:

I really liked how they looked on the white ground and felt the motifs would make a great toile print, minus the palm fronds. [Below are "outtakes" from work. I was testing out the colors to get the correct balance of grays. The dark is the rectangle defining the repeat of the print].

Et voila!

Linking up with:
Michelle's Creative Compulsions

Hopscotch Fun

I'm on week 4 of the Summer of Creativity course and this week's theme was Humor.

That's a puzzle in the lower left. Yes! Redbubble offers puzzles now!

Get the 1000 piece version and drive yourself crazy!

[puzzle link]

You may need this laughing exercise while working on that:

Spoonflower is doing a "Sports" design challenge and I'm adding the Hopscotch placement design into the contest. I think it might be a good design for bedding, which Spoonflower offers.

The scale is too small, I had to reduce it for the contest and will make it bigger after it's over.

Wait. 

Is hopscotch a sport or a game? 

Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha. Ha.

I'll update with a link when voting starts 7/30.
Voting is open until 8/4 There are 486 entries in this contest. (Yikes)
Not a winner. Boo.

Linking up with

Michelle's Creative Compulsions

Shelbee's Spread the Kindness

Agapanthus Adventure

Growing out in the front yard is Agapanthus, or Nile Lily:

I used one as a brush to make textures

the setup

lots of texture experiments!

The instigation for this is my participation in the Textile Design Lab's Summer of Creativity.

Since I'm "working from home" three out of five days a week, I thought I'd take advantage of the Lab, which I've used sporadically over the years. The membership cost is not cheap ($490/year, $49/month-to-month) but a bargain if you compare it to the cost of the Otis Extension course I used to teach ($800/10 weeks).

The Summer of Creativity this year is themed on Self Care. Weekly, we get a creative exercise hosted by Rita Patel (the textures above are the result), then a design brief with inspiration pulled from WGSN.

This week's brief was to design patterns to be used on yoga mats and accessories. 

Tips on how to create mandalas were part of this as well.

My agapanthus Mandala as a placement print

I used one of the textures for the ground

It went over really well in the weekly crit.😄

As a result, the collection has made it onto print on demand products!

Socity6 Yoga Mat (and other things)

Four designs on Spoonflower (can't order until my sample strikeoffs come in)

Agapanthus Mandala Green

Agapanthus Mandala Purple

Agapanthus Purple Toss

Agapanthus Green Toss

Redbubble things (green ground):

link for green ground products

Redbubble things (purple ground):

link for purple ground products

I got a lot of mileage out of this design!

Looking forward to this week's assignment. The theme will be Humor.

Linking up with

Michelle's Creative Compulsions Linky Party
Shelbee's On the Edge of the Week

As Seen In My Dreams

I don't usually create artwork in my dreams. When I do, I pay attention.

An interesting side note:

I've been mending my Crazy Quilt, and I've been in a constant battle with Mr Lou because he'll plant himself on top of my working area. He stayed on the couch the entire time I worked on this, and my work surface was the table with the quilt. Very curious.

Dream Squares, fabric collage of denim, pink cotton broadcloth, and silver lamé, 10 x 10", ©2020

For thread, I used weft threads pulled from the denim square.

#AtoZchallenge 2020: Stitching the World - Conclusion

Blank map (2/14/20):

Room 207, The Kinney, Venice Beach, stARTup LA Art Fair

Stitching the journeys at the Kinney (2/16):

At the end (5/1):

The one color I need to finish the piece, DMC floss #907. On order.

Final A-Z Challenge thoughts:
As I said in the previous post, I'm so grateful for this challenge as it forces me to finish projects!
I never would have gotten this far with Stitching the World, if not for the daily alphabetical deadlines.
Stitching was a super soothing/ calming activity to perform during COVID April. It was delightful to get my hands working embroidery floss again. And the colors! Yum!

I discovered some new blogs to follow, along with some old favorites. My personal A-Z blog roll is down in the lower left of the site. (Had to remove a couple because your images are ginormous.) I managed to visit more blogs and comment more often than typical due to working-from-home and lack of supervision (hehheh).

Thanks to the A-Z Blogging Challenge team for all that you do!
One request: make an A-Z Challenge Instagram account so us visual people can tag you!
(I'll even manage it for you if you want!)

Stitching the World - The Rainbow of Journeys

I must thank the A-Z Blogging Challenge for keeping me on track and actually getting this project [almost] all stitched! I will write up a conclusion with my thoughts on the challenge later in the week.

There were 117 answers to my Stitching the World Four Questions:
1) Where are you from?
2) Where are you now?
3) Where do you want to go?
4) What color is your journey?

Here's a video "tour" for your watching pleasure:  

And here, the rainbow of answers:
Bernice: La CA > LA CA > Japan
Shana: NYC > LA > Guadalajara
Amanda: Mexico > LA > Finland
Matt: Fallbrook > Anaheim > Egypt/ Jordon
Rachael: W Palm Beach > Venice > Malta
Brad: Denver CO > Los Angeles > Greece
Pao: Detroit > Chicago > Nowhere
Christine: France > SF > Vietnam
Vita: Fairfax > LA > Matera Italy
x: LA > LA > Iceland
Barbara: Phila PA > Santa Monica > Argentina
Lolo: China  > Orange County CA > Iceland
Stevie: LA > High Desert > Italy
Suzanne: Toronto > Toronto > Australia
Victoria: Michigan > Venice CA > Paris
x: France > Los Angeles > India
x: Tehran > LA > Norway
David: Colorado > Los Angeles > Everywhere
Ellie: Bismark ND > Los Angeles CA > Minneapolis MN
J: Iran > LA > "Zoo" [Zimbabwe]
Jason: Long Beach CA > LA CA "All Day" > Everywhere
Jeff: England > Los Angeles > Iceland
Jim: Florida > Los Angeles > Mars
Sherwood: Wash DC > LA > Paris
Victoria: Los Angeles > Los Angeles > Ethiopia
Brenda: Los Angeles > Los Angeles > [?]
Gwen: NY > here > still here
x: France > LA > Bali
Anne: Utica NY > Mar Vista CA > Eraring NSW
Jeremy: Virginia > Los Angeles > Philippines
Kim: London > LA > Mexico [Merida]
Lili: Cuba > Los Angeles > "I dunno"
Angie: United States / Mexico > California > New Zealand
Kaz: New Jersey > Los Angeles > Iceland
x: Manila > LA > Honalulu
Jean: Georgia > Florida > Home
Chris: Santa Monica > Venice > Jade Gate Yangzhou
Flora: Tehran > Los Angeles CA > Italy
x: San Diego > Venice > Monaco
Bill: Chicago > Long Beach > Laos
Marisa: Houston TX > Los Angeles > Big Bend National Park
Susan: Torrence CA > The Kinney > The Canals
Kay: Essex UK > Essex UK > Val d'Isere France

Saya: Los Angeles > Los Angeles > Around the World
x: Iran > LA > The Moon
x: CA > LA > Poland
Worf: Vancouver BC > Canada > Antartica
Giancarlo: California > California > Paris
x: W Palm Beach > LA > Marshall Islands
Anne: Cleveland OH > Boston MA > Christchurch NZ
Shelbee: Bethleham PA > Watertown NY > Asheville NC
Chris: Asheville NC > Los Angeles > Mongolia

Melissa: Monterrey Mexico > Long Beach CA > Japan
Christine: LA CA > Santa Monica > Iceland
Felipe: Sao Paulo Brazil > Venice Calif > NYC
Heidi: Los Angeles > Silver Lake > Scotland
Marianske: Czech Republic > Silver Lake > Art Island Japan
Sarah: Venice > Venice > Spain
Chanel: LA > LA > Thailand
CC: Hardin MT > LA > Inishmaan Ireland
Leo: Ireland > LA > Ireland
Francine: Chicago > Los Angeles > World
Roland: Belgium > Los Angeles > Bali
Suzanne: Chicago > San Rafael > Santa Fe
Lucia: Ireland > Long Beach > Russia
Randy: Sharon CT > Storrs CT > Jerusalem Israel
Glenn: Toronto > Venice Beach > Patagonia
Heather: Venice/Marina Westside > Venice/Marina Westside > Scotland
Patrizia: Rome > Los Angeles > Italy
Nir: Kaimantan Indonesia > Makassar > London
Fred: San Diego > Venice > Austria
Lorine: CA > CA > Out of state not sure yet [Alaska]
Newton: Brazil > LA > LA
Michele & Lucien: Lake Stevens WA > Danville CA > Paris
Karen: NYC > Pomona> Japan
Alicia: Iowa > Roseville CA > Poland
Anne: Philadelphia > Los Angeles > London
Carly: Hong Kong > Los Angeles CA > London UK
Guillermo: LA > Boyle Heights > Everywhere
R: LA > Fairfax CA > Molokai
Paul: Boston MA > LA > Mars
Grace: California (LA) > New York (NY) South of France
Isiah: Iowa USA > Los Angeles USA > Taiwan
Hannah: Maine > NC > Thailand
Alessia: Rome > Los Angeles > Bora Bora
Chenhung: Taiwan > LA USA > Sweden
ChaCha: NYC > Cali > Around the World
Sarah: Maine > Sanur Bali > "With the flow"
Lisa: Pittsburg PA > NY NY > Japan
Charley: Lumberton NC > Venice CA > Antartica

Yanelie: LA > Lancaster > Brazil
Jess & Lynne: LA > Venice > Spain
Louise: London > Santa Monica > Israel
Cornelia:  Leipzig Germany > Los Angeles CA > "Towards happiness"
Zoe: Detroit MI > Pasadena > Greece

David: Korea > So Cal > Peru
Sara: California > California > Minnesota

Violeta: Puebla Mexico > Mexico DF > Bali
Genie: Washington DC > Redondo Bch CA > "Closer by the sea!"
Irene: New Jersey > Los Angeles > Shenzhen
Brian: LA > LA > Silk Road > Tajikstan
Karen: Santa Barbara > Altadena > Paris
Maritza: San Diego > Los Angeles > Alaska
x: Illinois > Cali > New Zealand 
62 x: Covina > Venice > Venice Italy
Trang: Vietnam > Los Angeles > Bora Bora

Sarah: Germany & India > Long Beach > Denmark
Amy: Boston MA > LA CA > LA / Everywhere
Bryan: SF > Fairfax > Malaysia
Jae Eun: s Korea > Los Angeles > Portugal
Silvana: Belgrade, Serbia > Sydney, Australia > Varanasi, IndiaTia:
Tia: San Francisco > Los Angeles > Japan
Janet: Long Beach CA > Sherman Oaks CA > Tuscany
Sonia: Massachusetts > Los Angeles > Europe [Hungary]
Lori: Memphis > SF CA > Bhutan
Theresa: Solana Beach > Pasadena > Laos
Ahree: Philadelphia > Los Angeles > Seoul/span>
Oshiri: Isreal > LA > Capetown

Sina: Tucson AZ > LA > Arroyo Grande
Susan: SF Bay area > Los Angeles > Antartica
Uri: Atlanta > Las Vegas > Wasatch Mountains
Annie: Toronto > Los Angeles > Venice Italy
John: LA > LA > "North" [Alert Nunavet]
Janae: China > Palmdale > Orange County
Andrea: Mexico > Palmdale > The Universe
Barbara: CA > OH > Europe [Netherlands]

Sad that you didn't join in?
It's not too late!
Stitching the World 2 is open for responses!

#AtoZchallenge 2020: Stitching the World - Z

All the Z countries and territories.

Zambia
Zimbabwe
J: Iran > Los Angeles > Zoo [Zimbabwe safari]
How did he get there?
Original answers:

The Zoo?

Back on "I" Day, I asked for "Zoo" suggestions from my readers.
Some of the responses:

As for your zoo question: does it need to start with a J? In that case I'd suggest to skip the zoo. Fly to Johannesburg, South Africa, drive 4-5 hours towards Kruger park and meet the Big Five and lots of other beautiful animals! -- Part-time Working Hockey Mom

On Facebook:

I made the editorial decision to send J on a photo safari in Zimbabwe. So much better than the zoo, right? A fitting end to my A-Z Stitching the World tour.

I'll be doing one more wrap-up post sometime in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned!

Want to learn more about the Blogging from A to Z Challenge? Read about it here.
Want to read other A-Z bloggers? Here is the Master List!
I have my personal list of links on the lower left of this page.

#AtoZchallenge 2020: Stitching the World - Y

There is only one Y country:

Yemen
Nobody went there.
That is all for today.

Want to learn more about the Blogging from A to Z Challenge? Read about it here.
Want to read other A-Z bloggers? Here is the Master List!
I have my personal list of links on the lower left of this page.

#AtoZchallenge 2020: Stitching the World - X

There are no X countries.

There are, however three Xtraterrestrial journeys, and I stitched 2/3:
Jim: Florida > Los Angeles > Mars
Paul: Boston MA > LA > Mars
x: The Moon (can't find the info for this one. ARGH!)

I'm going to walk you through some of my process on getting to Mars.
I cogitated upon how to "stitch" this journey as I stitched other journeys.
Do I sew on a covered button? Cover a button with embroidery floss?
Have said button dangle off the bottom?
Both of the Mars Men were "now" [leg two of journey] in LA, and I started stitching their third paths down to the bottom hem.

I settled upon the idea of making a pom pom, and found an instructional video: 

My first attempt did not go well, using spawn-of-the-devil metallic "floss":

It looks like a sheaf of wheat! Fancy golden straw! The stuff Rumpelstiltskin wanted!
It started falling apart immediately!

Next I tried cotton embroidery floss

Nope. We have a classic "Pinterest Fail" photo here!

I needed wool. Wool I did not have.

I scrapped the pom pom from scratch concept and instead WRAPPED an existing pom pom.

SO much better!

Want to learn more about the Blogging from A to Z Challenge? Read about it here.
Want to read other A-Z bloggers? Here is the Master List!
I have my personal list of links on the lower left of this page.

#AtoZchallenge 2020: Stitching the World - W

There is only one W country:

Western Sahara
Nobody went there.
That is all for today.

Want to learn more about the Blogging from A to Z Challenge? Read about it here.
Want to read other A-Z bloggers? Here is the Master List!
I have my personal list of links on the lower left of this page.

#AtoZchallenge 2020: Stitching the World - California

On Sundays, the official A-Z Blogging Challenge takes the day off.
I am using Sundays to highlight the journeys in the US states.
Today, here are all the state of California journeys!

Northern and Central California

I placed the generic "California" responses in Sacramento.
Angie: United States/Mexico [Cuidad Juarez] > California > New Zealand
Barbara: CA > OH > Europe [Netherlands]
ChaCha: NYC > Cali > Around the World
Giancarlo: California > California > Paris
Lorine: CA > CA > Out of state not sure yet [Alaska]
Sara: California > California > Minnesota
x: Illinois > Cali > New Zealand

There were a few for northern CA.
Alicia: Iowa > Roseville CA > Poland
Bryan: SF > Fairfax > Malaysia
Christine: France > SF > Vietnam
Lori: Memphis > SF CA > Bhutan
Michele & Lucien: Lake Stevens WA > Danville CA > Paris
R: LA > Fairfax CA > Molokai
Susan: SF Bay area > Los Angeles > Antartica
Suzanne: Chicago > San Rafael > Santa Fe
Tia: San Francisco > Los Angeles > Japan
Vita: Fairfax > LA > Matera Italy

There were a couple for central CA.
Karen: Santa Barbara > Altadena > Paris
Sina: Tucson AZ > LA > Arroyo Grande

The majority of responses were for greater Los Angeles, Riverside, and Orange Counties.
[Probably because the bulk of responses were obtained at the stARTup Art Fair  held in Venice in February].
The blob of French knots kept growing and growing. They absorbed the San Diego County journeys!
Will that be what urban LA looks like in 50 years?

I have arranged these chromatically, instead of just alphabetically by name.
Bernice: La CA > LA CA > Japan
Shana: NYC > LA > Guadalajara
Amanda: Mexico > LA > Finland
Matt: Fallbrook > Anaheim > Egypt/ Jordon
Rachael: W Palm Beach > Venice > Malta
Brad: Denver CO > Los Angeles > Greece
x: LA > LA > Iceland
Barbara: Phila PA > Santa Monica > Argentina
Lolo: China  > Orange County CA > Iceland
Stevie: LA > High Desert > Italy
Victoria: Michigan > Venice CA > Paris
x: France > Los Angeles > India
x: Tehran > LA > Norway
David: Colorado > Los Angeles > Everywhere
Ellie: Bismark ND > Los Angeles CA > Minneapolis MN
J: Iran > LA > "Zoo" [Zimbabwe]
Jason: Long Beach CA > LA CA "All Day" > Everywhere
Jeff: England > Los Angeles > Iceland
Jim: Florida > Los Angeles > Mars
Sherwood: Wash DC > LA > Paris
Victoria: Los Angeles > Los Angeles > Ethiopia
Brenda: Los Angeles > Los Angeles > [?]
Gwen: NY > here > still here
x: France > LA > Bali
Anne: Utica NY > Mar Vista CA > Eraring NSW
Jeremy: Virginia > Los Angeles > Philippines
Kim: London > LA > Mexico [Merida]
Lili: Cuba > Los Angeles > "I dunno"
Kaz: New Jersey > Los Angeles > Iceland
x: Manila > LA > Honalulu
Chris: Santa Monica > Venice > Jade Gate Yangzhou
Flora: Tehran > Los Angeles CA > Italy
x: San Diego > Venice > Monaco
Bill: Chicago > Long Beach > Laos
Marisa: Houston TX > Los Angeles > Big Bend National Park
Susan: Torrence CA > The Kinney > The Canals

Saya: Los Angeles > Los Angeles > Around the World
x: Iran > LA > The Moon
x: CA > LA > Poland
x: W Palm Beach > LA > Marshall Islands
Chris: Asheville NC > Los Angeles > Mongolia

Melissa: Monterrey Mexico > Long Beach CA > Japan
Christine: LA CA > Santa Monica > Iceland
Felipe: Sao Paulo Brazil > Venice Calif > NYC
Heidi: Los Angeles > Silver Lake > Scotland
Marianske: Czech Republic > Silver Lake > Art Island Japan
Sarah: Venice > Venice > Spain
Chanel: LA > LA > Thailand
CC: Hardin MT > LA > Inishmaan Ireland
Leo: Ireland > LA > Ireland
Francine: Chicago > Los Angeles > World
Roland: Belgium > Los Angeles > Bali
Suzanne: Chicago > San Rafael > Santa Fe
Lucia: Ireland > Long Beach > Russia
Glenn: Toronto > Venice Beach > Patagonia
Heather: Venice/Marina Westside > Venice/Marina Westside > Scotland
Patrizia: Rome > Los Angeles > Italy
Fred: San Diego > Venice > Austria
Newton: Brazil > LA > LA
Karen: NYC > Pomona> Japan
Anne: Philadelphia > Los Angeles > London
Carly: Hong Kong > Los Angeles CA > London UK
Guillermo: LA > Boyle Heights > Everywhere
R: LA > Fairfax CA > Molokai
Paul: Boston MA > LA > Mars
Grace: California (LA) > New York (NY) South of France
Isiah: Iowa USA > Los Angeles USA > Taiwan
Alessia: Rome > Los Angeles > Bora Bora
Chenhung: Taiwan > LA USA > Sweden
Charley: Lumberton NC > Venice CA > Antartica

Yanelie: LA > Lancaster > Brazil
Jess & Lynne: LA > Venice > Spain
Louise: London > Santa Monica > Israel
Cornelia:  Leipzig Germany > Los Angeles CA > "Towards happiness"
Zoe: Detroit MI > Pasadena > Greece
Genie: Washington DC > Redondo Bch CA > "Closer by the sea!"
Irene: New Jersey > Los Angeles > Shenzhen
Brian: LA > LA > Silk Road > Tajikstan
Karen: Santa Barbara > Altadena > Paris
Maritza: San Diego > Los Angeles > Alaska
62 x: Covina > Venice > Venice Italy
Trang: Vietnam > Los Angeles > Bora Bora

Sarah: Germany & India > Long Beach > Denmark
Amy: Boston MA > LA CA > LA / Everywhere
Jae Eun: s Korea > Los Angeles > Portugal
Tia: San Francisco > Los Angeles > Japan
Janet: Long Beach CA > Sherman Oaks CA > Tuscany
Sonia: Massachusetts > Los Angeles > Europe [Hungary]
Theresa: Solana Beach > Pasadena > Laos
Ahree: Philadelphia > Los Angeles > Seoul/span>
Oshiri: Isreal > LA > Capetown

Sina: Tucson AZ > LA > Arroyo Grande
Susan: SF Bay area > Los Angeles > Antartica
Annie: Toronto > Los Angeles > Venice Italy
John: LA > LA > "North" [Alert Nunavet]
Janae: China > Palmdale > Orange County
Andrea: Mexico > Palmdale > The Universe

#AtoZchallenge 2020: Stitching the World - V

All the V countries and territories.

Vanatu
Vatican City / Holy See
Venezuela

Vietnam
Trang: Vietnam > Los Angeles > Bora Bora
Christine: France > SF > Vietnam

Want to learn more about the Blogging from A to Z Challenge? Read about it here.
Want to read other A-Z bloggers? Here is the Master List!
I have my personal list of links on the lower left of this page.

#AtoZchallenge 2020: Stitching the World - U

All the U countries and territories.

Ugunda

Ukraine
United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom
Carly: Hong Kong > Los Angeles CA > London UK
Heather: Venice/Marina Westside > Venice/Marina Westside > Scotland
Heidi: Los Angeles > Silver Lake > Scotland
Jeff: England > Los Angeles > Iceland
Kay: Essex UK > Essex UK > Val d'Isere France
Louise: London > Santa Monica > Israel
Nir: Kaimantan Indonesia > Makassar > London

click to embiggen

United States of America
States A-D [4/5]
States F-I [4/12]
States M-W [4/19]
California [on Sunday, 4/26]

Uruguay
Uzbekistan

Want to learn more about the Blogging from A to Z Challenge? Read about it here.
Want to read other A-Z bloggers? Here is the Master List!
I have my personal list of links on the lower left of this page.

#AtoZchallenge 2020: Stitching the World - T

All the T countries and territories.

Taiwan
Isiah: Iowa USA > Los Angeles USA > Taiwan
Chenhung: Taiwan > LA USA > Europe [Sweden]
Tajikistan
Brian: LA > LA > Silk Road - Dusanbe

Tanzania
Thailand
Chanel: LA > LA > Thailand
Hannah: Maine > NC > Thailand
Timor-Leste

Togo
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago

Tunisia
Turkey
Tuvalu

Turkmenistan

Want to learn more about the Blogging from A to Z Challenge? Read about it here.
Want to read other A-Z bloggers? Here is the Master List!
I have my personal list of links on the lower left of this page.